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Aussie Thoroughbreds Steal the Show in Kentucky

Chris McDonald takes his third win in Louisville, Kentucky (Photo by FinisherPix)

Chris McDonald and Kate Bevilaqua maintained solid leads through the day to secure memorable career IRONMAN wins.

by Jennifer Ward Barber

The seventh running of IRONMAN Louisville debuted this morning to a clear sunrise over the Ohio River, and continued in hot and steamy Bluegrass State-fashion. The river current worked in favor of the athletes, many of whom clocked personal-best swim times. American Andrew Hodges broke off the front of the swim early and maintained a 20 to 30 yard lead into transition, with Guy Crawford and Ryan Bates holding onto second and third. Australian Chris McDonald was fourth into T1.

In the women’s race, Dubai's Svetlana Blazevic led out of the swim, with Germany’s Nina Kraft and American Tami Ritchie holding second and third. Again, fourth place proved lucky, that's where Kate Bevilaqua stayed for the majority of the swim.

It was on the rolling hills of Jefferson County that McDonald solidified his victory. As the miles ticked by, the Austin-based triathlete with 36 IRONMAN races under his belt used experience and patience to put time into the men behind him. By mile 20 he’d secured a 4:30 lead and, by the end of the bike, had extended the gap to over eight minutes on defending champion Patrick Evoe and Tucson-based Thomas Gerlach.

"The triathlon media said I’d have to pack my cycling legs," McDonald said after the race. With a 4:29:14—the fastest of the day—it was evident he did.

From early on in the women’s race, it was clear that Bevilaqua had a much tighter race to manage. For the majority of the bike Bevilaqua, 36, duelled with her senior of almost 10 years, Nina Kraft. It wasn’t until mile 90 that the German began to slip, losing ground to Boulder’s third-year pro (and fastest biker of the day) Whitney Garcia. Bevilaqua biked a 5:13:32, which was good for third (after Canada’s Brooke Brown, who would come to haunt the women later in the run.)

By the time the run began, temperatures had tipped into the low 90s—cool by Kentucky standards but still brutal conditions for a 140.6-mile race. McDonald’s confident lead left the drama to the women’s field: places two through 10 in the men’s race barely shifted through the marathon, as defending champion Evoe matched McDonald’s pace 10 minutes behind him. McDonald’s 8:21:34 finish was good for a new course record, previously held by Victor Zyemtsev.

Bevilaqua went out hard on the run, determined to put time in on Garcia. By mile 13, she had opened up a gap of almost six minutes, which she held until the finish. Behind her the women jostled for position: Brown used the fire lit under her by a flat tire to push her way through the field, chasing down Garcia, April Gellatly and Kraft. It wasn’t until mile 24 that she finally passed Garcia, the last person between her and second place.

"I came out of the water dead last, I’m even slower without a wetsuit," Brown said as she narrated her day. It was a lot of hard work for the rookie pro, who made her debut at the IRONMAN distance in Louisville. "I would’ve been content with fifth place today," she said.

Ahead of her, Perth-born Bevilaqua was also making her debut in Louisville—but with two IRONMAN wins under her belt in Western Australia (2010) and Korea (2011). She came here this year to race in the heat and work through some nutrition issues. "Halfway through the marathon I didn’t think I’d be able to hang on," she said at the finish line. "With six miles to go it was just ‘please God help me get through this!’"

The men’s podium is topped by two men who are not only training parters, but close friends—friends who’ve shared the podium here for three years. Chris McDonald took second to Evoe here last year, and today was yet another chapter in their Louisville story.

"There’s nobody else I’d rather get first than Chris," Evoe said of his friend. And Evoe was pleased with his own performance as well: "We work really hard and to see the fruits of our labor at a major race like this—I just couldn’t be happier."

Tough battles within the fields aside, it’s McDonald that should add "Most Improved" to his list of victories. Not only did he make it five IRONMAN wins, he improved each leg of his race today enough to improve his 2012 time by over 30 minutes. "I’ve been through a lot of of rough stuff the last few years and this town always makes me feels good," McDonald said. "It puts me back on the map."

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